
JULY 1, 1921 


BULLETIN OF THE STATE 

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA 


ATHLETICS AT IOWA 


PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY, IOWA CITY 

Issued semi-monthly, July to March; weekly April to June. Entered at the post 
office at Iowa City, Iowa, as second class matter. Acceptance for mailing 
at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of 
October 3, 1917, authorized on July 3, 1918. 



Monograph 


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LC Control Number 



2008 461873 


The Men’s Gymnasium. Adjoining the building on the right are the tennis courts. 




































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ATHLETICS AT IOWA 


HE high school boy who is interested in athletics 
and who has been an active and able partici¬ 
pant in different branches of sport during his 
high school days takes an unusual interest in the 
athletics of the university in which he will seek 
his higher education upon completing his pre¬ 
paratory work. Probably he expects to “go in 
for” athletics in the university, and he cherish¬ 
es an ambition to win a place on the ’Varsity 
football team, the basketball five, the baseball 
nine, or to set a record on the cinder path. He 
is interested in the university’s athletic coaching 
staff as well as in the instructional staff; he 
wants to know something of the institution’s athletic record as 
well as its academic standing. 

The “Big Ten” 

The University of Iowa is a member of the Western Inter¬ 
collegiate Conference, familiarly known in athletic circles as 
the “Big Ten.” In the Conference Iowa is associated with 
Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Chicago, Purdue, Ohio, North¬ 
western, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Iowa takes great pride in the 
fact that during the early, stormy days of Conference history 
the institution had a prominent part in shaping the policies 
that have made it possible for the “Big Ten” to become a power 
in athletic circles and the best functioning organization of its 
kind in the United States. 

Athletic Board 

As in other universities of the “Big Ten,” a Board in Con¬ 
trol of Athletics, at Iowa directs athletic life. This Board is 
made up of six faculty members appointed by the President of 
the University, an alumni member elected by the alumni of 
the university, the director of athletics ex officio, and the four 




students who are captains of the football, basketball, baseball, 
and track teams. Student members have an equal vote with 
the others in determining policies. 

Eligibility Buies 

A student of the University who participates in athletics is 
first of all required to make good grades in his studies. At 
Iowa athletics are considered a means to an end, and not an end 
in themselves. Organized athletics and gymnasium work are 
needed to keep the student in good physical condition and to 
create a part of the invisible but essential spirit that makes a 
university great. 

Freshmen are not permitted to compete on ’Varsity teams, 
It is first of all required that they learn how to study and that 
they acclimate themselves to university atmosphere. The Uni¬ 
versity is a place for work, for serious effort on the part of the 
student to equip himself better for later life. The University, 
in attempting to build up athletic prestige, has kept uppermost 
in importance the necessity for good scholarship. 

The man who is to make good in scholarship and athletics 
at the University is the man who in his own heart desires to 
come to Iowa. The University wants most the student who most 
wants to come, and in the degree in which a student is eager 
to succeed in athletics and in the classroom, in precisely that 
same degree can he achieve the things which he sets out to do. 
The student who enrolls at Iowa for the purpose of making 
an athletic team injures both the university and himself. Every 
year a few high school athletes of ability register in the Univer¬ 
sity and expect, apparently, to be retained as students or per¬ 
mitted to play on Iowa teams regardless of their standing in the 
classroom. They disappear. Some return home; some remain, 
but their work is of such character that they are never eligible 
for athletics. 

The ruling which prohibits freshmen at Iowa from playing on 
’Varsity athletic teams is a ruling of the “Big Ten” in effect 
at every one of the ten universities composing the conference. 
Although only a Conference ruling, the same regulation obtains 
in any college or university of good standing in the United 
States. A student who is not a freshman is likewise prohibited 
from participating in athletics until he has received credit for 
a year’s work done at this institution. Thus a student might at- 



Wilson of Iowa winning first place in the 220-yard dash at the “Big Ten” track 
and field meet at Chicago, June, 1921, 

tend Knox college for two years and participate in athletics at 
Knox as a sophomore. If he then comes to Iowa to complete his 
course he must attend at the University a year before he can 
be a member of a ’Varsity athletic team. Such a rule has a 
tendency to keep away men who might come to the University 
solely to play football or baseball. 

Having become eligible for athletics, the student has three 
years of competition remaining. The University places no fur¬ 
ther restrictions except in the College of Medicine, the faculty 
of which rules that no student may participate in two con¬ 
secutive major sports in any year. 

The first-year athlete, however, is not without his chance to 
shine. To make the freshman team in any sport is considered 
just as truly an honor as for an older player to make the ’Var¬ 
sity. Freshman, teams compete with the ’Varsity in practice 
games, giving both teams valuable experience. The freshman 
athlete also receives official recognition as well as honor. For 
winning a place on a first year team he is awarded a numeral 
and a jersey sweater, the numeral being the year of his class. 
Freshmen playing during the year 1921-1922 will be awarded 
the numeral “1925,” for they belong to the university class 
which will graduate in 1925. 

Although freshmen have their own teams under capable 
coaches in all sports, they have no opportunity to concentrate 
on athletics. They do not give the time to practice that is re- 








A Homecoming football game. Iowa carries the ball off tackle 






Members of the University’s physical training and coaching staff. Left to right: 
Howard H. Jones, director of athletics and head football coach; James N. Ashmore, 
basketball and baseball coach ; George T. Bresnahan, track and cross-country coach ; 
Ernest G. Schroeder director of physical education for men ; Walter R. Fiesler, 
medical supervisor; Leon H. Brigham, assistant director of athletics ; Harold E. 
Briceland, instructor in physical education; and Frank E. Wheeler, instructor in 
physical education. 

quired of ’Varsity men, and they do not make trips away from 
the campus to play games, trips that cause them to be absent 
from classroom work. 

The Coaches 

Howard H. Jones, three years an end on the Yale eleven and 
for two years head coach at Yale, accepted five years ago a five 
year contract to become head coach and director of athletics 
at the University. He has recently renewed his contract with 
Iowa and is expected to remain for many years to come. Every 
high school athlete is familiar with the record of recent years. 

Every year Iowa plays five of the seven games on her foot¬ 
ball schedule with conference teams, and this year a game with 
Notre Dame, one of the strongest football schools in the west, 
has also been arranged. For 1922 Yale has promised to meet 
Iowa, and freshmen who enter the University this year will 
have an opportunity of winning a place on the squad that will 
make the trip to New Haven. 

An athlete of ability wants to know that he is being coached 
by a man who will develop the best that is in him. Mr. Jones 
is that sort of coach, a leader who will give every man a 
square deal and will encourage every player in his care to do 
his best. He has impressed on Iowa teams the spirit of fair 
play, good sportsmanship, and clean athletics. 

In 1919 Iowa was fortunate in being able to secure the ser- 







vices of James N. Ashmore as basketball and baseball coach. 
Ashmore was a player on the football, basketball and baseball 
teams at Illinois before he took his degree in 1903, and has since 
devoted his time to coaching. He was at Millikin College for 
several years and made a fine record in winning football, basket¬ 
ball, and baseball championships. In addition he has coached at 
Western Maryland College and at the University of Colorado. 
At Colorado he coached three seasons of baseball, losing the first 
three games the first season and never another. In basketball 
he finished third in the Rocky Mountain Conference the first 
year, tied for first place the second season, and won the champion¬ 
ship the third year. Mr. Ashmore came to Iowa at the end of 
his service as athletic director in the army and has turned out 
basketball and baseball teams of superior ability. Last winter 
Iowa made its best record in history in the “Big Ten” basket¬ 
ball race. A year ago the Iowa baseball team finished third in 
the conference. 

George T. Bresnahan has completed his first season as track 
coach at the University, and his success has won for him the full 
confidence and support of every student and alumnus. Seven 
“I” men from the year before were ineligible for the track 
team of 1921 but the coach made point-winners out of men who 
had been mediocre performers. Members of the track team 
broke eight Iowa records in the 100 yard dash, 220 yard dash, 
high hurdles, low hurdles, half mile relay, high jump, mile run, 
and two mile run. Iowa won every dual meet in which the team 
competed, captured the state meet by a wide margin, was fifth 
in the “Big Ten” events, and in the National meet at Chicago 
won third place. 

Iowa ’& track coach came from Wisconsin, where he was a star 
cross-country and half-mile runner. After graduating in 1913 
he took up coaching work at Wisconsin and was in charge of the 
cross country squad and assistant track coach. His cross-country 
squad won the championship one year and took second another. 
In 1920 the Wisconsin track team won every dual meet in 
which it competed and placed third in the Conference. Mr. 
Bresnahan attended the Olympic games in 1920 to make a 
study of performances and coaching methods. 

Ernest G. Schroeder is director .of physical education for men. 
He has been in charge of this work since 1907. At eighteen 
years of age Mr. Schroeder became an assistant in the Dayton, 
Ohio, Y. M. C. A. and later was employed as physical director 



Physical education is required of freshman and sophomore students in the Univer¬ 
sity. Here is a class in heavy apparatus. 


in the Marshalltown, Iowa, “Y.” For a year he was in charge 
of athletics at Simpson College, and then after another year at 
Marshalltown, was induced to come to the University. His prac¬ 
tical experience has been supplemented by special training at 
Silver Bay, Lake Geneva, and Princeton University. His en¬ 
thusiasm for physical education has been contagious in both 
student body and faculty of the University, and the physical 
training department ha^ grown and improved rapidly under 
his charge. 

Walter R. Fiesler, a graduate of the College of Medicine, with 
practical experience as participant and coach in football, 
basketball, and track, is medical supervisor in charge of all men 
doing athletic work. Dr. Fiesler is especially charged with 
keeping men in such physical condition as to minimize injuries, 
but he gives treatments when injuries occur. In addition he 
directs the training of all men who are out for places on athletic 
teams, giving attention and care not only to members of teams, 
but to all who participate in athletics. 

Gymnasium and Field 

Iowa athletes have the best equipment, superior buildings 
and grounds set aside for their use, and careful attention from 
their coaches. Athletes have their headquarters in the Men’s 
Gymnasium, which is modern in every way. A swimming pool is 
available for use the year ’round. The gym is situated at the 








Swimming pool in tho Men’s Gymnasium. Here are held dual swimming meets, The pool is open the year 'round 















Members of the 1921 track squad were the holders of 
eight University records. Left to right: back row— 
Aubrey Devine, joint holder of the record in pole vault; 
Crawford, high hurdles; Belding, set new low hurdle 
record, later broken by Brookins ; Slater, discus and 
shot put; Mclntire, mile run; Hoffman, high jump ; 
front row—Brookins, present holder of low hurdle re¬ 
cord ; Seiling, Hill, Friedlander, Wilson, half mile re¬ 
lay ; Wilson, 100-yard dash and 220-yard dash; Peter¬ 
man, two-mile run. 


main entrance to Iowa Field, two blocks from Old Capitol, the 
center of the University, and only four blocks from the Quad¬ 
rangle, dormitory for men. 

Iowa Field, on which all outdoor contests are held, has a 
regulation football gridiron with permanent concrete bleachers 
on either side. A quarter mile cinder path for track work sur¬ 
rounds the gridiron. To the north is the baseball diamond, and 
between the two a large level area for practice work in any 
sport. 

This summer has seen the construction of a new concrete 
entrance to the field. In addition, the permanent concrete 
fence around the enclosure has been further extended and four 
new sections of concrete bleachers built. The football gridiron 
is in splendid condition, since it is carefully attended twelve 
months of the year. The running track was improved last spring 
under the direction of Coach Bresnahan. A year ago the base¬ 
ball diamond was rebuilt with a sodded infield and gravel paths. 
It is perfectly graded and drained. 

The Future for Coaches of Athletics 

Men who make good in athletics find, an attractive future 
in the physical education and coaching field when they have com¬ 
pleted their university work. In addition to the experience 
to be gained by playing on athletic teams at the University, a 




Coach Jones shows how it should be done. Says he: “Now then, what do I do? 
At the snap of the ball, why, I’m in there fighting—Let’s see you do it.” 


course of instruction in coaching methods in all major sports 
is offered at Iowa during the Summer Session. 

Athletics and physical education in Iowa high schools are 
constantly assuming a place of larger interest and greater im¬ 
portance. New high schools are adding an organized sports 
program to their activities every year. Consolidated schools 
are making athletics possible for a constantly increased number 
of boys and young men. The University of Iowa’s basketball 
tournament for high school teams attracted seventy-four dif¬ 
ferent schools and more than 700 players last March. Foot¬ 
ball, formerly confined to relatively few schools in Iowa, and 
these in larger cities, is likewise gaining in favor. Coaches are 
needed for these teams. 

Instruction in physical training and athletic coaching fre¬ 
quently go hand in hand in high schools. It is predicted that 
compulsory physical training, with allied work in athletics, will 
be a fact in Iowa before long. Eighteen states now have com¬ 
pulsory physical education in the public schools, and fifteen 
more are considering the enactment of such legislation. A bill 
to make physical training compulsory in all grade and high 
schools in the state was introduced in the last General Assembly. 

To meet the demand for coaches and directors of physical 
education the University offers a special course leading to the 
degree of Bachelar of Arts. This includes instruction in phy¬ 
siology, anatomy, anthropometry, gymnastics of every kind, 
pedagogy in physical education, football, track, baseball, bas- 




Over the hurdles at top speed. Crawford shows the length of his stride in clearing 
the high ones. 

ketball, swimming, life-saving, wrestling, boxing, fencing, and 
other work of the type demanded of physical education teachers. 
Few men care to become professional performers, but the man 
who is interested in athletics and wants to remain actively in 
touch with sports can command a good salary as a coach. 

Working One’s Way 

Those who seek to earn all or a part of their expenses while 
attending the University are given every encouragement. 
Scholarships are available to cover tuition charges. No athlete 
who considers entering the University of Iowa is offered “all his 
expenses ’ ’ or virtually guaranteed a monthly sum of money as an 
inducement, although every effort is made to assist the worthy 
individual. Every student, athlete or otherwise, has access to the 
free service of an employment bureau conducted by the Dean of 
Men. It is easily possible for men to earn $10 or $12 a week 
toward their expenses by working outside of school hours. Many 
students earn all their expenses and still carry their university 
work successfully, although normally it is wiser for students 
to devote their full time to their studies. Those who work their 
way through must not be disappointed if it takes additional time. 

Work which returns pay in board is most popular among men. 

















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The 1920 ’Varsity football squad at Iowa 

































































































This may be washing dishes, waiting on table, or similar jobs. 
During the past year university men have worked at board jobs, 
stenography, bookkeeping, file clerking, caring for furnaces, 
odd jobs about houses and yards, clerking in stores, painting 
houses, plumbing, working in garages, acting as janitors in 
university buildings and business houses, carrying mail, operat¬ 
ing moving picture machines, playing in orchestras, singing in 
church choirs, acting as assistant pastors of Iowa City churches 
or country churches near Iowa City, part time teaching or 
tutoring, printing, cleaning and pressing, repairing watches, 
manufacturing, night clerking in hotels, vending milk, helping 
bakers, assisting in library, acting as salesmen and solicitors, 
barbering, serving as assistants to doctors, dentists, and lawyers 
and at other tasks almost too numerous to mention. Some men 
•even take care of babies while father and mother go out even¬ 
ings. They say it is good pay and gives a good quiet evening 
for study while baby sleeps. 

University Standards 

The University of Iowa recognizes and encourages a sports 
program as a necessary adjunct to university life. As a matter 
■of policy, no state funds are expended in the interests of de¬ 
veloping or maintaining athletics, but this does not result from 
lack of interest. All expenses of maintaining the department of 
-athletics, including improvements on the athletic field, traveling 
•expenses of teams, cost of equipment, salaries of coaches, employ¬ 
ment of officials, and so on are covered by receipts from admission 
•charges to see the games. 

Iowa’s athletic standing has been built on the slogan, “Iowa 
Fights.” To those men who will play on Iowa teams for the 
first time this year, next year, and in seasons to come Iowa of¬ 
fers the heritage of a fighting record. Iowa is known for the 
way her teams play in the last quarter and the last half. The 
successful Iowa athlete must be all for Iowa. If he makes good 
in athletics and in his studies, his degree of success will reflect 
his enthusiasm for Iowa and his resolve to make his efforts count. 


LIBRARY 0F |Jj^|j||j|||j|j|||^j ^ 

0 033 377 396 A 


1921 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 

Oct. 1—Knox at Iowa City. 

Oct. 8—Notre Dame at Iowa City. 

Oct. 15—Illinois at Iowa City (Home¬ 
coming). 

Oct. 22—Open. 

Oct. 29—Purdue at Lafayette. 

Nov. 5—Minnesota at Minneapolis. 

Nov. 12—Indiana at Iowa City. 

Nov. 19—Northwestern at Evanston. 


1922 BASKETBALL SCHEDULE 

Jan. 7—Wisconsin at Iowa. 

Jan. 14—Iowa at Minnesota. 

Jan. 21—Purdue at Iowa. 

Jan. 28—Iowa at Purdue. 

Jan. 30—Iowa at Indiana. 

Feb. 11—Iowa at Chicago. 

Feb. 13—Iowa at Wisconsin. 

Feb. 18—Ohio at Iowa. 

Feb. 23—Minnesota at Iowa. 

Feb. 27—Michigan at Iowa. 

Mar. 4—Iowa at Michigan. 

Mar. 6—Iowa at Ohio. 








